Director / Senior Director, Strategic Communications
Leadership Communications role at Bully Pulpit International. Washington · full-time · $110,000–$160,000 base.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Own senior client relationships and guide accounts from new-business pitch through final reporting
- Set earned and owned media strategy, then coordinate media, creative, measurement, and data teams
- Oversee strategic memos, communications plans, press releases, op-eds, and social content
- Build reporter relationships to create proactive coverage around client issues
- Manage cross-office workflows, coach junior staff, and support new-business proposals
What you bring
- Bring eight to ten-plus years in public affairs, PR, or strategic communications, preferably from an agency or political setting
- Use AP Style expertly while moving between creative storytelling and analytical strategic reporting
- Work proficiently with Cision or Meltwater plus social media marketing platforms
- Show you can manage deliverables for multiple clients and lead cross-functional teams with limited oversight
- Stay composed while making immediate recommendations during high-pressure, tight-timeline situations
Who this fits
You’ll thrive as a player-coach who can advise senior clients, shape strategy, write, and manage delivery in ambiguous, fast-moving situations. The role is based in Washington and expects office work at least three days each week from DC, NYC, SF, CHI, or LA. You’ll also guide junior staff and coordinate teams across offices.
From the employer
Bully Pulpit International is an outcomes agency made up of strategists, data scientists, and artists. We come from politics, brands, and government and we communicate without barriers and measure what matters. We have more than 400 team members in six countries and thirteen offices — Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, D.C., London, Los Angeles, New York, Oslo, San Francisco, and Zürich. We apply our unique expertise across strategic communications, public affairs, research, and digital marketing to create sophisticated and customized strategies that make change possible for both American and European clients.
- Starting Salary Range: $110,000 - $160,000 (+ annual bonus)
- Expectation to work from one of our offices (DC, NYC, SF, CHI, LA) at least 3 days a week
The Impact You Will Make
The Director/Senior Director serves as the primary bridge between agency leadership and client success. You will act as a client lead directly owning the relationship and overseeing the lifecycle of an account from the initial new business pitch to final reporting. This role requires a hybrid skill set: the political savvy of a lobbyist, the creative flair of an ad executive, and the precision of a project manager.
You are a "player-coach" who is just as comfortable in a pitch meeting with a CEO as you are in redlining a press release or managing a complex editorial calendar. You thrive in ambiguous environments and are able to quickly understand what the client needs and translate it into a clear strategy that teams can operationalize. You don't just wait for news to happen; you monitor client issue areas to proactively flag opportunities for engagement before the client even realizes they exist.
What Day to Day Looks Like
1. Strategic Account Leadership
- Executive Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for senior-level decision-makers, offering real-time strategic counsel with minimal oversight.
- Campaign Architecture: Set the strategy for and oversee the execution of earned and owned media campaigns, ensuring they align with the client’s long-term goals.
- Integrated Execution: Shepherd projects across multi-disciplinary service teams, including media planning, media buying, creative, measurement, and data insights.
2. Content & Media Excellence
- High-Stakes Writing: Oversee the production of everything from high-level strategic memos and communications plans to tactical press releases, op-eds, and social media content.
- Media Relations: Proactively develop earned media strategies, leveraging existing reporter relationships to place stories that move the needle on key issues.
3. Team Management & Mentorship
- Workflow Oversight: Manage internal teams across different offices to ensure quality control and adherence to tight deadlines.
- Professional Development: Act as a coach and/or direct manager for junior staff, providing clear feedback and supporting their professional development.
4. Business Development
- Growth Strategy: Partner with agency leadership to identify, draft, and present proposals for new business opportunities.
- Relationship Building: Expand existing accounts while establishing trust with prospective clients through compelling pitch decks and presentations.
Requirements
- 8–10+ years in public affairs, PR, or strategic comms (agency or political background preferred).
- Master of AP Style; ability to pivot between creative storytelling and analytical strategic reporting.
- Proficiency in media monitoring software (Cision, Meltwater) and social media marketing platforms.
- Proven track record of managing multi-client deliverables and leading cross-functional teams with minimal oversight.
- Ability to stay calm and provide "real-time" recommendations under high-pressure, tight-timeline scenarios.
Benefits
BPI offers a wide range of benefits to U.S.-based employees, including 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%, generous time off for vacation, $50 monthly phone reimbursement, unlimited sick time, and 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents. BPI’s benefits prioritize employee wellness and progressive support to our diverse workforce.
We’re looking for all kinds of people.
BPI Group is an integrated public affairs agency that delivers outcomes for the top organizations and leaders around the world. With expertise in strategic communications, digital marketing, creative, research, and measurement, we offer a cohesive approach across corporate, policy, and public affairs strategy in today’s interconnected world. By combining incisive strategy and deep tactical expertise, we make change possible. Our transatlantic presence includes offices across eleven markets in the US and Europe.
We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on individual commitment to excellence. We want to have the best qualified people in every job. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
BPI is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. We consider applications holistically and you may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!
Let’s keep in touch. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at bpigroup.com
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